Thermo-cementing and folding machines



Feb. 18, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1962 Inventor: W/z'llzkzpz B Longz/al Feb. 18, 1964 w. B. LONGVAL 3,121,242

Filed Nov. 29, 1962 THERMO-CEMENTING AND FOLDING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1964 w. B. LONGVAL 3,121,242

THERMO-CEMENTING AND FOLDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet a Feb. 18, 1964 w. B. LONGVAL 3,121,242

THERMO-CEMENTING AND FOLDING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 18, 1964 W. B. LON GVAL THERMO-CEMENTING AND FOLDING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1962 Fili Lh fiJ 1964 w. B. LONGVAL 3,

TIIERMO-CHIIENTING AND FOLDING MACHINES Filed NOV. 29, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I 1 I I Feb. 18, 1964 w. B. LONGVAL 3,121,242

Tl-IERMO-CEMENTING AND FOLDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 11g 11 I [Z w zp CR; 134

l l l I I 3 2 i 4, 1;; E 53 l United States Patent 3,121,242 TrmnMo-cnranrsrmG AND roLmNG MAC This invention relates to machines for cementing and folding edges of work of the type illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,720,667, granted October 18, 1955, in the name of W. E. Naugler, and Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,765,768, granted October 9, 1956, in the name of H. C. Paulsen, and, more particularly, to improved means for progressively operating automatically on the margin of a work piece.

The effective control of the flow of cement in the ma chines disclosed in the above-referenced patents is of primary importance to the successful utilization of such machines in the manufacture of shoe parts. In order properly to distribute cement on the margin of a work piece presented to the machine, the initial presentation and final egress of the work piece must be anticipated such that the cement applying instrumentalities are responsive thereto and are in position to initiate or terminate the flow of cement at the precise time the work piece reaches or leaves, respectively, the area of exposure to the cement applying instrumentalities. Failure of the cement applying instrumentalities consistently and precisely to anticipate the exact moment 'of introduction or emergence of the leading or trailing edge of a work piece results in the application of too much or too little cement, thereby re sulting in the deposition of cement outside the area of the work piece or inferior bonding of the work piece.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide means for anticipating the introduction and egress of a work piece such that the cement applying instrumentalities initiate the flow of cement at the precise moment the leading edge reaches said instrumentalities and terminates the flow of cement at the exact moment the trailing edge emerges from exposure thereto.

To this end and accordance with a feature of the present invention, there is provided, in combination with common control means such as the solenoid employed in the machines disclosed in the above-referenced patents, actuating means including an electrical circuit having a plurality of light responsive solar cells cooperatively positioned in the work supporting surface of the machine, said solar cells being disposed in such manner as to anticipate an articles ingress to and egress from the cement applying instrumentalities of the machine and to control the flow of cement during exposure of the article to sai instrumentalities.

The above and other features of the invention, together with various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described in connection with an illustrative machine in which the invention is embodied and with reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine exemplifying the invention, frame portions being cut away to reveal internal mechanisms;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged View, partly in section, of the creaser foot showing a valve to control the flow of cement through it, and an actuating lever for this valve;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a portion of the intermittent-drive mechanism and valve control means;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic angular view of the intermittent drive mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the head 3,lZl,Z4Z Patented Feb. 18, 1964 of the machine on an enlarged scale and showing a portion of the drive mechanism for a gear pump employed to feed cement;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the cement supplying mechanism but with a portion of one side of the heat receptacle broken away;

FIG. 7 is a slide elevation showing the means for controlling the increment of feed imparted to a work piece by the hammer and anvil;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the relative location of the solar cells and the operative instrumentalities of the machine;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating positions of a portion of an upper of a shoe as it is sensed by the solar cells; and

FIG. ll is an electrical diagram of the machine.

The frame of the machine comprises a hollow base 10 having a laterally extending arm 12. The arm 12 is partially surrounded by a work supporting table '14 removably mounted on the machine. Removably secured to the upper portion of the base ltl is a cap 15 having a neck 18 which overhangs the arm 12 and terminates in a removable head Zil in which a number of operating tools of the machine are mounted. The basic structure of the machine is similar to that disclosed in the above-referenced patents.

The various tools commonly employed in machines of this type are provided, including a turning post 22, a creaser foot 24-, and a cooperating folding finger 26 (FIG. 2) which oscillates in a path forming an acute angle with the upper surface of the arm 12 and folds the margin of the work against the adjacent surface of the creaser foot 24. The extent to which the margin of the work is deflected upwardly is determined by a gage .finger 28 having a finger piece 39 and pivoted at 32 on the lower portion of the head 2%. In conventional manner'a hammer 34 (FIG. 1) cooperates with an anvil 3-6 to press the told when it has been formed, the hammer and anvil acting together to feed the work rectilinearly a step at a time past the turning post 22. A shipper knife '38, operable on sharply incurved margins of the work, also is provided. A more detailed analysis of the above and other operative instrumentalities common to machines of this type is delineated in the above-referenced patents.

The creaser foot 24 is attached by screws t'll, 46 (FIG. 2) to the lower end of a cement tube 42 (FIG. 5) having a passageway 44 connecting a melting receptacle 42: (FIG. 6) to a passageway 43 in the creaser foot 24 which enables the latter to act as a nozzle. The cement tube $2 and creaser foot 24 attached thereto are movably supported, as described in the above-referenced patents, to permit adjustment of the operative location of the creaser foot 24-.

The connecting passageway 48 in the creaser foot 24 joins t -e passageway 44 in the cement tube 42 to the bottom surface of the creaser foot. The creaser foot is provided with a heating unit 5i? designed to maintain the temperature of the creaser foot at a desired magnitude and thereby insure the proper fluid characteristics of the cement passing therethrough. Further, within the passageway 44 in the tube 42 there is a heating unit 52 supported at its upper end in a bushing 54 threaded into the tube 4-2.

Adhesive material is supplied to the passageway 44 in the tube 42 from the receptacle 46 which is rigidly secured to the tube 4 2. The coating material can be introduced to Sue receptacle 46 in the form of bulk cement or rod cement. The machine illustrated in Patent No. 2,720,667, relerenced above, is designed to use bulk cement and the machine illustrated in Patent No. 2,765,768, referenced above, is designed for use with rod cement. The no el features of the subject invention, as hereinafter delineated, can be employed in both of the machines disclosed in the -above-referenced patents. For purposes 3 of illustration, the explanation following will be directed to the machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,765,768.

At the bottom of the receptacle 46 is a chamber containing a gear pump for forcing molten cement out of the receptacle comprising gears 56, 56 (FIG. mounted on laterally extending shafts 53 and 611. The shaft 619 is provided with a driving pinion 62. It will be seen from FIG. 5 that the gear pump feeds into an outlet 64 which opens directly into the passageway 44 and hence ultimately to the creaser foot 24. The receptacle 46 also contains a power driven disk 66 (FIG. 6) which is attached to a gear 68 (FIG. 5) and assists in carrying the cement to the gear pump. The gear 68 meshes with the drive pinion 62 which in turn meshes with an idler 76 supported on a pin 72, the idler being in mesh with a pinion 74 car-tied by a shaft '76. The latter is provided with a skew gear 78 meshing in turn with another gear 86 on a shaft 82 extending lengthwise of the frame 12 and to which power may be delivered intermittently by a mechanism to be later described.

The receptacle 46 (FIG. 6) has an inlet 84 into which a strip or rod of thermoplastic cement A is fed by an impositive feed mechanism mounted upon a bracket 86. The cement is delivered from a reel (not shown) and carried to the inlet 84 by means of feed wheels 88 and 90 (FIG. 6) the peripheries of which engage the rod to move it along as needed. The feed wheels are driven by means of a sprocket 92 connected by a chain 94 to a sprocket (not shown) upon the shaft 69 upon which one of the gear? of the pump is mounted, this gear being in a continuous chain with others, as previously described, which are driven from the skew gear 7 8. The impositive or slip drive is interposed between the chain connection 94 and the feed wheels to prevent breakage of parts if the machine is started before the cement in the receptacle 46 has been melted or for other reasons.

An intermittent drive for the gear pump, disk 66, and freed mechanism is actuated by means of an eccentric 1% (FIGS. 3 and 4) on the main drive shaft 101 of the machine. This eccentric 100 imparts an oscillatory movement to a bifurcated lever 1132 pivoted at 104 and having an arm 166 (FIG. 4) joined by means of links 1118 and 110 to a lever 112 which is loose on a sleeve 114 surrounding the shaft 82 and is adapted to be connected to said sleeve to give an intermittent movement thereto.

To this end, a latch 116, pivoted at 118 in a lever 121i gripping the sleeve 114, is shaped to fit in a notch 122 at the top of the lever 112 and when it snaps into that notch, under the action of a spring 124, connects the lever to the sleeve 114 to oscillate the sleeve and, therefore, drive the gear pump, the disk 66, and the feed mechanism. The latch 116 has a depending tail piece 126 which is normally urged away from the end of the shaft 76 by means of the interposed spring 124. The latch 116 and its tail piece 126 may, however, be rotated against the spring 124 by the depression of a rod 123 so as to lift the latch out of the notch 122 and stop the pump, the disk 66, and the feed mechanism.

The depression of the rod 128 is efiected by a lever 130 (FIG. 3) pivoted on a bracket 132, whenever a solenoid 134 is de-energized by actuating means to be hereinafter described. When the solenoid is de-energized the core 136 is released and raised by a spring 138 thereby pivoting the lever 130 and depressing the rod 128. An overrunning clutch is interposed between the gear 84) and the sleeve 114 to drive the gear 81 in one direction only.

The creaser foot 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) has a valve spindle 14% positioned within the passageway 48 to control the flow of cement from the passageways 48 and 44. The valve spindle 141} has a pointed lower end which coacts with a sharp edge of a shoulder 142 forming part of the passageway 43. The valve spindle extends through a packing 144 compressed by a gland 146 and has a laterally slotted head 148.

and the inner face of an upright 156 which is integral therewith. A tail 158 on the lever =152 coacts with an interposed spring 160 which tends to move the lever 152 in a counterclockwise direction to close the valve 149. The upper portion of lever 152 is forked and has a hooklike configuration 162 to receive a ball 164 upon the end of a flexible cable 166 extending upward through a guide tube 168 (FIG. 1) and connected to a slide 179 which is mounted for reciprocation in a casing 172 on the top of the neck 13.

By moving the slide 1711 (FIG. 1) against the tension of a spring 174 thevalve may be opened and to this end the slide 176 has collars 176, 176 coacting with a block 178 pivotally attached to a lever 180. The slide has a spring 182 between the endmost collar and the block. The lever 181} has a long pivot turning in a bracket 184 and has, at the far end of the pivot as seen in FIG. 1, a lever arm 186 which has a rounded end resting upon the top of the front-to-back lever 134 It will be clear that whenever the forward end or" the lever 131i is raised to release the rod 123 it also rotates the levers 186 and 188 and opens the value 141 When the solenoid 134 is de-energized, the forward end of the lever 136 will be lowered and, therefore, the rod 128 depressed and the valve 140 closed under the impulse of the spring 174.

The actuation of the solenoid 134 is controlled by three light-responsive solar cells 190, 192, and 194 (FIG. 8) mounted in a control plate 196 positioned in the table 14 and arm 12, a light source 198, and appurtenant electrical circuitry as illustrated in FIG. 11 and as hereinafter described. The solar cells 199, 192, 194 are arranged in such manner as to anticipate the introduction of an article to the operative instrumentalities of the machine and to control the functioning of said instrumentalities during the exposure of the article thereto. In addi tion to controlling the actuation of the solenoid 134, the solar cells 192 and 194 control the snipper knife 38 and the feeding increment of the hammer and anvil, respectively, as hereinafter delineated.

The light source 198 is positioned directly above the solar cells 190, 192 and 194 such that it casts a light on the solar cells in the absence of a work piece interposed therebetween. The light source is connected to the abovementioned electrical circuitry by a lead wire 199.

The solar cell 194} is positioned immediately forward of the creaser foot 24 in the path followed by a work piece when such is introduced to the creaser foot 24 and the other operative instrumentalities. As hereinafter described, the presence of work piece covering the solar cell 190 activates the solenoid 134 thereby etfectuating the application of cement to the work piece. The position of the solar cell 199 is such that when the trailing edge of the work piece passes therefrom, the interval required to deactivate the solenoid 134 and perform the mechanical operations required to terminate the flow of cement is equal to the time required for the trailing edge to pass under the cement applying instrumentalities. The flow of cement is thus discontinued at the precise moment the work piece ceases to be exposed to the cement applying instrumentalities.

The solar cells 192 and 194 are located forwardly of the solar cell 196 in spaced relationship such that they are disposed in the alternate paths followed by articles of different configurations during the introduction thereof t9 the operative instrumentalities of the machine. As hereinatfer described, the solar cells 192 and 194 activate the solenoid 134 when covered by an article and thereby initiate the actuation of the mechanical mechanisms which control the flow of cement in anticipation of the exposure of an article to the cement applying instrumen talities. The positions of the solar cells 192 and 194 are such that the creaser foot 24 will commence to apply cement to the margin of the article at the exact moment the leading edge thereof is in position under the creaser foot. Thus, the solar cell 192 or the solar cell 194 anticipates the ingress of the leading edge of the work piece and initiates the flow of cement at the exact moment said edge is exposed to the cement applying instrumentalities, the solar cell 190 sustains the activation of the solenoid 134 during the exposure of a work piece thereby maintaining the iiow of cement, and the solar cell 1% anticipates the egress of the work piece from the cement applying instrumentalities and terminates the flow of cement at the precise moment the trailing edge passes therefrom.

Power is supplied to the circuitry illustrated in FIG. 11 through leads L1 and L2 connected to an A.-C. power source (not shown). The voltage supplied by the A.-C. power is diminished by a transformer T1 to permit full wave rectification in order to supply direct current to the appurtenant transistor circuitry. A bridge rectifier A1 converts the alternating current into direct cur-rent and a capacitor C1 smooths out the pulsating direct current.

Control relays CR1, CR2 and CR3 and the amplification circuits appurtenant thereto are connected in parallel and control the solenoid 134. When any one of the abovementioned control relays is de-energized the contacts therein are closed and the solenoid is energized. Conversely, when all of the above-mentioned control relays are energized the solenoid is deenergized. The solar cells 196, 1% and 1% control the energization of the control relays CR1, CR2, and CR3, respectively, and, therefore, the solenoid 134. The amplification circuits appurtenant to the above-mentioned control relays are disposed intermediate the control relays and the solar cells respectively associated therewith and function to amplify the impulse generated by the solar cells, thereby to insure instantaneous reaction thereto by the control relays. As illustrated in FIG. l1, the above-mentioned amplification circuits are all identical. Accordingly, only one of said circuits will be hereinafter described in detail, it being clearly understood that the respective circuits amplify the impulses emanating from the solar cells 1%, 192 and 194 in like manner.

The control relay CR1 is controlled by two transistors Q1 and Q2 which are in turn controlled by the solar cell 192. A voltage divider comprising resistors R3 and R4 is employed, in combination with the solar cell 192, to control the transistor Q2. The transistor Q2 acts as an amplifier to insure that the control relay CR1 is either on or oif, thereby insuring instantaneous reaction to the introduction of a work piece and eliminating the possibi ity of partial or sluggish activation of the control relay CR l. When the solar cell 192 has a beam of light cast thereon it generates a positive voltage which is carried into the base of the transistor Q2 and the transistor Q2 is thereby shut off. Resistors R3 and R4 of the voltage divider are of such a magnitude that when the solar cell does not generate a positive voltage the transistor Q2 will be on. A resistor R2 provides a negative voltage at the base of the transistor Q1 when the transistor Q2 is ofi and thereby turns Q1 on. When Q1 is on it energizes the control relay CR1. When the transistor Q2 is turned on by removing the positive voltage supplied into the base thereof by the solar cell 192, the resistor R2 is shorted out and the negative voltage removed from the base of the transistor Q1. A resistor R1 and a rectifier A3- are used to bias the transistor Q1. When the negative voltage is removed from the transistor Q1 it is turned OE and, thus, the control relay CR1 is de-energized and the solenoid 134 energized. The rectifier A1 protects the relay coil CR1 when the transistor Q1 is turned off by shortcircuiting the counter EMF.

When the machine is to be used, assuming that a cement rod has been properly located in position and the main power source activated, a switch S is closed to energize the circuit controlling the solenoid 134. The light source 198 will initially cast a beam of light upon the solar cells 190, 192 and 194 and thereby retain the transistor Q2. and those corresponding thereto in the off positions. Consequently, the transistor Q1 and those corresponding thereto will be on, the control relays CR1, CR2 and CR3 will be energized and the solenoid 134 de-energized. As described above, when the solenoid 134 is de-energized the lever 13% depresses the rod 128 thereby releasing the connection between the driving mechanism and the skew gear 78 and permitting the spring 174 to retain the valve 144} in a closed position.

As stated hereina bove, the solar cells 192 and 194 are located forwardly of the solar cell 1% in position to anticipate the ingress of. an article to the cement applying instrumentalities. Therefore, when a Work piece is introduced to the machine it will initially cover at least one of these solar cells and thereby interrupt the light beam cast thereon from the light source 198. For purpose of illustration, it will be assumed that the solar cell 192 is covered, it being clearly understood that the actuation of the solenoid 13 5 is accomplished in like manner by the circuits appurtenant to the solar cells 19%?' and 194.

When the solar cell 192 is covered, the transistor Q2 is instantaneously turned on and the transistor Q1 is turned 01?. Accordingly, the relay coil CR1 is de-ene'rgized and the solenoid :134 instantaneously energized. The energized solenoid pivots the lever 13% thereby rais ing the forward end thereof. When the forward end of the lever 13%} is raised, the valve 149 is opened and the rod 12?: released to permit engagement of the latch 116 in the notch 122 thereby causing the gear pump, cylinder '66, and feed mechanism to be actuated. The interval of time required for the completion of the above is equal to the time required for the leading edge of the work piece to traverse the distance between the solar cell 192 and the cement applying instrumentalities. Thus, flow of cement is initiated at the exact moment the leading edge of the work piece is exposed to the cement applying instrumentaiities. As stated above, coverage of the solar ell 19% will maintain the flow of cement during the passage of the Work piece, it being understood that the solar cell 194} activates the solenoid 134 by means of circuitry identical to that described above with respect to the solar cell 1&2.

For facilitating more uniform edge folding and obta ning a neatly finished product with a minimum effort on the part of the operator, the solar cells 192 and 194 are employed to perform the additional functions of control of the snipper knife 3% and the increment of feed, as stated above. The cell 132 is so positioned that, upon being covered at least partially by an incurved marginal portion as shown in FIG. 10, it is eiiect-ive through the appurtenant amplification circuit (FIG. ll) to de-energize the control relay CR1 and thereby energize a solenoid As a result the snipper knife 33 is automatically caused to cooperate with the turning post 22 in snipping more inwardly curved portions of the margin. The solenoid 2% acts through a connecting rod 2&2 to control interconnecting means for operating the shipper knife 38 identical to the means disclosed in the above-reference Naugler patent. A switch Y is provided to facilitate operation on a work piece which does not require the use of the snipper knife, said switch being employed to control the solenoid 2%.

The solar cell 194 automatically controls the length of feed and folding increments imparted by the oscillations of the hammer and anvil. T hus, upon a marginal portion of outside curvature approaching the operating zone, as shown in FIG. 9, the cell 194 becomes sufiiciently uncovered to emit a voltage signal to the relay CR2 whereby said relay is energized. As a consequence, a rotary solenoid 2% is energized and acts on an arm 2% (FIG. 7)

to rotate a feed control shaft 2 528 and hence automatically shorten the feeding increments appropriately for the interval in which the outside curvature is being folded. The

capacitor C2 is employed to accomplish a time delay for deactivating the solenoid thereby to extend the interval of stroke shortening. The amount of rotation of the shaft 208'is determined by contact of an arm 21% with a stop screw 212. The stop screw 212 is adjustable to control the magnitude of feed desired. A bridge rectifier A2 converts the alternating current into a direct current of higher magnitude than the rectifier A1.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface, cement handling apparatus including cement applying instrumentalities and other operative instrumentalities common to folding machines, a solenoid for controlling said cement handling apparatus, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said operative instrumentalities in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any one of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said cement applying instrumentalities, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said operative instrumentalities, means operated by said proximately positioned solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuation of said solenoid during the exposure of the article to said cement applying instrumentalities and to de-activate said solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

2. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface, a snipper knife, a hammer and an anvil movable to feed the margin of a work piece rectilinearly a step at a time, cement handling apparatus including cement applying instrumentalities and other operative instrumentalities common to folding machines, a first solenoid for controlling said cement handling apparatus, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said first solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said operative instrumentalities in spaced relationship, means oper ated by the response of any one of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said firs solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said cement applying instrumentalities, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said operative instrumentalities, means operated by said proximately positioned solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuation of said first solenoid during the exposure of the article to said cement applying instrumentalities and to deactivate said solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, a second solenoid for controlling said snipper knife, said second solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the presence of an incurved marginal portion, a third solenoid for controlling the increment of feed imparted by said hammer and anvil, said third solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the introduction of a marginal portion of outside curvature, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

3. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface and operative instrumentalities common to folding machines, a cement handling apparatus comprising a heated hollow receptacle, means providing a passageway through which cement may be extruded upon a Work piece, pump means for forcing molten cement out of said receptacle and into said passageway, valve means located Within Said passageway t9 control the introduction of cement to the work, a solenoid for controlling said pump means and valve means, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said operative instrumentaliti-es in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any one of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said cement extruding means, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said operative instrumentalities, means operated by said proximately positioned solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuation of said solenoid during the exposure of the article to said cement extruding means and to deactivate said solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

4. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface, a shipper knife, a hammer and an anvil movable to feed the margin of a work piece rectillnearly a step at a time and other operative instrumentalities common to folding machines, a cement handling apparatus comprising a heated hollow receptacle, means providing a passageway through which cement may be extruded upon a work piece, pump means for forcing molten cement out of said receptacle and into said passageway, valve means located within said passageway to control the introduction of cement to the work, a first solenoid for controlling said pump means and valve means, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for control-ling the actuation of said first solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said operative instrumentalities in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any one of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said first solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said cement extruding means, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said operative instrumentalities, means operated by said proximately positioned solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuation of said first solenoid during the exposure of the article to said cement extruding means and to deactivate said first solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, a second solenoid for controlling said snipper knife, said second solenoid being controlled by one ofsaid forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the presence of an incurved marginal portion, a third solenoid for controlling the incre ment of feed imparted by said hammer and anvil, said third solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the introduction of a marginal portion of :outside curvature, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light intercepting movement of the work piece.

5. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface and a creaser foot, a cement handling apparatus comprising a heated hollow receptacle, means providing a first passageway joining said receptacle and the creaser foot, said creaser foot having means providing a passageway therein through which cement may be extruded upon a work piece, pump means for forcing molten cement out of said receptacle and into said first passageway, valve means located within said creaser foot passageway to control the introduction of cement to the work, a solenoid for controlling said pump means and valve means, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said creaser foot in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any one of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said creaser foot,

and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said creaser foot, means operated by said proximately positioned solar cells in response to the resence of an article to maintain the actuation of said solenoid during the exposure of the article to said creaser foot and to de-activate said solenoid anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, and 'a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

6. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface, a snipper knife, a hammer and an anvil movable to feed the margin of a work piece rectflinearly a step at a time, and a creaser foot, a cement handling apparatus comprising a heated hollow receptacle, means providing a first passageway joining said receptacle and the creaser foot, said creaser foot having means providing a passageway therein through which cement may be extruded upon a work piece, pump means for forcing molten cement out of said receptacle and into said first passageway, valve means located within said creaser foot passageway to control the introduction of cement to the work, a first solenoid for controlling said pump means and valve means, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said first solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said creaser foot in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any one of said 7 forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said first solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said creaser foot, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said creaser foot, means operated by said promimately positioned solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuation of said first solenoid during the exposure of the article to said creaser foot and to deactivate said first solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, a second solenoid for controlling said snippet knife, said second solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the presence of an incurved marginal portion, a third solenoid for controlling the increment of feed imparted by said hammer and anvil, said third solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the introduction of a marginal portion of outside curvature, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

7. In a folding machine having a work supporting surface and a creaser foot, a cement handling apparatus cornprising a heated hollow receptacle having an inlet and an outlet, drive means within said receptacle to carry thermoplastic cement from said inlet to said outlet, a feed mechanism for feeding a rod of solid thermoplastic cement to said inlet, means providing a first passageway joining said receptacle and the creaser foot, said creaser foot having means providing a passageway therein through which cement may be extruded upon a work pi ce, pump means for forcing molten cement out of said receptacle and into said first passageway, valve means located within said creaser foot passageway to control the introduction or" cement to the work, a solenoid for controlling said drive means, feed mechanism, pump means and valve means, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwardly of said creaser foot in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any one of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said creaser foot, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said creaser foot, means operated by said proximately position solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuataion of said solenoid during the exposure of the article to said creaser foot and to deactivate said solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

8. in a folding machine having a work supporting surface, a shipper knife, a hammer and an anvil movable to feed the margin of a work piece rectilinearly a step at a time, and a creaser foot, a cement handling apparatus comprising a heated hollow receptacle having an inlet and an outlet, drive means within said receptacle to carry thermoplastic cement from said inlet to said outlet, a feed mechanism for feeding a rod of solid thermoplastic cement to said inlet, means providing a first pas sageway joining said receptacle and the creaser foot, said creaser foot having means providing a passageway therein through which cement may be extruded upon a work piece, pump means for forcing molten cement out of said receptacle and into said first passageway, valve means located within said creaser foot passageway to control the introduction of cement to the work, a first solenoid for controlling said drive means, feed mechanism, pump means and valve means, a plurality of solar cells mounted in said work supporting surface for controlling the actuation of said first solenoid, certain of said solar cells being located forwar ly of said creaser foot in spaced relationship, means operated by the response of any of said forwardly located solar cells to the ingress of an article to actuate said first solenoid in anticipation of the exposure of the article to said creaser foot, and another of said solar cells being positioned in immediate proximity to said creaser foot, means operated by said proxi mately positioned solar cell in response to the presence of an article to maintain the actuation of said first solenoid during the exposure of the article to said creaser foot and to deactivate said first solenoid in anticipation of the egress of said article therefrom, a second solenoid for controlling said snipper knife, said second solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to t e presence of an incurved marginal portion, a third solenoid for controlling the increment of feed imparted by said hammer and anvil, said third solenoid being controlled by one of said forwardly positioned solar cells in response to the introduction of a marginal portion of outside curvature, and a source of light to which the solar cells are responsive, respectively, upon relative light-intercepting movement of the work piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A FOLDING MACHINE HAVING A WORK SUPPORTING SURFACE, CEMENT HANDLING APPARATUS INCLUDING CEMENT APPLYING INSTRUMENTALITITES AND OTHER OPERATIVE INSTRUMENTALITIES COMMON TO FOLDING MACHINES, A SOLENOID FOR CONTROLLING SAID CEMENT HANDLING APPARATUS, A PLURALITY OF SOLAR CELLS MOUNTED IN SAID WORK SUPPORTING SURFACE FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTUATION OF SAID SOLENOID, CERTAIN OF SAID SOLAR CELLS BEING LOCATED FORWARDLY OF SAID OPERATIVE INSTRUMENTALITIES IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP, MEANS OPERATED BY THE RESPONSE OF ANY ONE OF SAID FORWARDLY LOCATED SOLAR CELLS TO THE INGRESS OF AN ARTICLE TO ACTUATE SAID SOLENOID IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EXPOSURE OF THE ARTICLE TO SAID CEMENT APPLYING IN STRUMENTALITIES, AND ANOTHER OF SAID SOLAR CELLS BEING POSITIONED IN IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY TO SAID OPERATIVE INSTRUMENTALITIES, MEANS OPERATED BY SAID PROXIMATELY POSITIONED SOLAR CELL IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESENCE OF AN ARTICLE TO MAINTAIN THE ACTUATION OF SAID SOLENOID DURING THE EXPOSURE OF THE ARTICLE TO SAID CEMENT APPLYING INSTRUMENTALITIES AND TO DE-ACTIVATE SAID SOLENOID IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EGRESS OF SAID ARTICLE THEREFROM , AND A SOURCE OF LIGHT TO TWHICH THE SOLAR CELLS ARE RESPONSIVE, RESPECTIVELY, UPON RELATIVE LIGHT-INTERCEPTING MOVEMENT OF THE WORK PIECE. 